Dear Local Section Leader,
I am pleased to announce that a new monthly webinar series for local section leaders will kick-off later this month. "Advancing Inclusion to the Next Level with your Local Section" will be held on Thursday, October 19th from 1:00-2:00 pm ET. Webinar participants will learn about the various resources and guides that the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect has developed to assist with hosting inclusive events, working with partner organizations or underserved communities, and other activities that local sections can take to help ACS advance and embrace inclusion in chemistry. We will also share details on how to apply for LSAC DEIR grants and provide an opportunity for participants to engage in interactive breakout sessions. I hope you’re able to join us, Register Today!
Beth Lorsbach,
Chair, Local Section Activities Committee
Last Call: Science-Cafe Mini-Grants
The ACS Committee on Local Section Activities is offering $500 mini grants for local sections to host Science Cafes. These grants can help you ignite scientific curiosity in your community and explore pressing questions with a scientific twist. Apply by October 15, 2023, and bring science into your neighborhood!. Let’s foster scientific literacy together! Apply now.
Local Section DEIR Grant
Unlock up to $3,000 for your local section’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. From speaker series to high school mentoring show how your local section embraces and advances diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect. Apply by November 13, 2023, to spark participation and inclusivity in your area. Please review all grant details here. Let us make a difference in our communities! Learn more and apply now.
Discover “The Healing Power of Chemistry” During
National Chemistry Week October 15-21
On October 15-21, join ACS in celebrating National Chemistry Week, a public awareness campaign promoting the value of chemistry in everyday life. This year’s theme, “The Healing Power of Chemistry,” recognizes the importance of advances in science from ancient times to the present. Join in the celebration by hosting events in your community, sharing on social media, or signing up to become a volunteer or coordinator. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or coordinator and reside within the U.S. click here, International, click here. For more information contact outreach@acs.org.
NCW 2023 Coordinator Request
Become a 2023 NCW coordinator! To be designated as the official coordinator for your section, please take this brief Pre-NCW Coordinator Survey. As always, local section chairs can designate one official NCW Coordinator who will serve as the point person for the rest of the local section. Please confirm with your local section leader prior to competing the survey.
NCW Coordinators can perform the following responsibilities:
- Plan, promote, and report the impact of hands-on science outreach via events held at libraries, malls, parks, or other public venues.
- Utilize Celebrating Chemistry magazine during your outreach events.
WCC 2023 Mini-Grants for Local Sections and International Chemical Sciences Chapters
The Women Chemists Committee (WCC) is offering a limited number of grants to ACS local sections, student chapters, and international chemical sciences chapters that wish to sponsor an event/activity that will increase the engagement of members who have identified as women chemists and will encourage innovative activities that will benefit the local community, regional meetings, and DEIR. WCC will provide up to $1,000 in grant funds as reimbursement for events that occurred between January 1-December 1 on a first-come, first-serve basis upon the approval. Apply by December 4 and include the WCC logo for your event. Send questions to wcc@acs.org.
Member Recruitment Commission Opportunity
Did you know that you can earn $15 per Member or Society Affiliate that you recruit to your Local Section? When recruiting new or re-instating Members and/or Society Affiliates to ACS at the Standard or Premium package level, simply instruct them to select your Local Section from the drop down on the Review Step of the online membership application. ACS will send you a commission check biannually. It’s that simple! Members can join at https://membership.join.acs.org.
ACS Member Benefits
The following a blurb you can use in your own communications or newsletters to your constituencies:
Do you know about the latest benefits from ACS? ACS Link: Have a question? Get answers while expanding your professional network. ACS Link is a benefit that leverages the global ACS community, using AI to help connect you with people who can provide answers, privately! Log in here. LinkedinLearning: Thousands of courses on a variety of professional topics and Certification Preparation/Assessment and Continuing Education Credits (CEUs). Learn More and Activate Your LinkedIn Learning License for free with your Premium Package.
During her remarks to Council, ACS President Judy Giordan reaffirmed her goal for all local sections to use the ACS Speaker Directory to book a speaker by year-end. The ACS Speaker Directory provides users with access to over 500 speakers who are available to present technical science talks, lead career development & professional advancement presentations, explore general interest, popular science topics, and more. Book your speaker today at www.acs.org/speakerdirectory. (ACS ID and login required)
Catalyze the Vote! Meet the 2024 ACS President-Elect Candidates
Join Dorothy J. Phillips and Florian J. Schattenmann for a friendly virtual discussion between the 2024 ACS President-Elect Candidates. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover more about each candidate’s values as they answer questions relevant to young chemists as well as the entire Society. Become more informed of their specific goals during this free interactive broadcast and get the information you need to confidently cast your vote. Register Today!
ACS 2023 National Election are Open
The 2023 ACS National Election opened on Monday, September 25 at 12:00 a.m. CT and will run through Friday, October 20, 12:00 p.m. CT. All eligible members, as of August 15, 2023, may cast their ballots electronically or by paper ballot. Read more.
New Updates to the Model Bylaws Template
The Committee on Constitution and Bylaws (C&B) approved new updates to the model bylaws template for Local Sections and Divisions. The updated document can be found at https://www.acs.org/about/governance/committees/constitution-bylaws/documents.html by clicking on “Model bylaws” for either Divisions or Local Sections. Use the new template to update your bylaws today! Contact C&B with any questions or for assistance at bylaws@acs.org.
2025 ACS National Awards Open for Nominations!
Nominate one of your peers, students, teachers, mentors, or colleagues for a 2025 ACS National Award, recognizing outstanding contributions in chemistry, doctoral research, public service, commercialization of new products, and more! We encourage the nominations of individuals from groups not commonly named as recipients of ACS awards such as women, chemists with disabilities, and people from unrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups, as well as industrial and international chemists. All nominations must be submitted online by November 1, 2023.
The Bio of New Polymers - An ACS/FDA Colloquium
The upcoming @FDA & ACS colloquium, “The Bio of New Polymers: Biobased, Biodegradable, and Biosustainable,” will feature presentations & a panel discussion focusing on the development of biopolymers for various food and cosmetic applications as well as offer an international perspective of these polymers. The colloquium takes virtually on October 12, from 9:00 AM – 12 PM. Visit www.acs.org/fdaseries for more information and to register.
Storing, Organizing, and Disposing Chemicals in Educational Settings
Foundations for Storing, Organizing, and Disposing of Chemicals in Educational Settings is a self-paced, six-unit course offered through the ACS Institute. This free course discusses prudent practices for chemical management using the RAMP framework: Recognize hazards, Assess the risks of the hazards, Minimize the risks of the hazards, and Prepare for the unexpected and emergencies. This course was designed for secondary school educators, but graduate students working in research laboratories and laboratory managers in higher education will benefit from this course. Visit the ACS Institute for a complete catalog of online courses, and contact safety@acs.org with any questions!
A Growing Safety Movement: Lab Safety Teams (LSTs)
LSTs are communities of graduate and postdoctoral researchers that promote a bottom-up approach to safety cultures, empowering members to propose solutions to safety-related issues. The ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety (CHAS) works with LST leaders to organize interactive, peer-led workshops throughout the year. The ACS Office of Safety Programs also supports the LST movement, building upon the 2022 ACS Chemical Safety Summit’s recommendation to establish more connections between academia and industry. Visit the LST website to learn about the history of the movement, access resources for initiating and maintaining an LST, and connect with the community!
Updated ACS Governing Documents and Petition Deadline
New petitions to amend the Constitution or Bylaws must be received by the Chief Executive Officer (bylaws@acs.org) by November 29 to be included in the Council agenda for the Spring 2024 meeting in New Orleans. Questions or comments may be sent to C&B at bylaws@acs.org.
What Do You Think About the ACS Brand?
Your insights play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of ACS. Please take a moment to share your feedback in this 10-minute survey. To thank you, a $5 donation will be made on your behalf to champion diversity in chemistry. Start the survey now!
The Committee on Chemists with Disabilities would like to announce “Teaching Chemistry to Students with Disabilities” 5th edition is now available as an eBook. This is a downloadable, searchable, eBook that provides guidance on accommodations for a variety of disabilities both visible and invisible, applicable to academia and industrial settings. There is also guidance on what is expected legally by the American Disabilities Act (ADA). Included in each chapter is contact information for the authors for follow up questions or deeper discussion. For more information you can contact cwd@acs.org.
Advancing Laboratory Safety Teams
We are pleased to share the final report from the 2022 ACS Presidential Safety Summit. One recommendation outlined in the report is to encourage and support Laboratory Safety Teams (LSTs) in graduate programs to reflect industry expectations.
Our Asks for Your Local Section:
- Are you aware of, interested in, or involved with any academic-industrial partnerships?
- Can you recommend resources that may be beneficial for LSTs?
- Are you interested in working with ACS to grow the LST program?
Please submit your interest in supporting the LSTs program to this form. For more information contact ACS Office of Safety Programs at safety@acs.org.
New Guidance Added to ACS Inclusivity Style Guide
New sections on data visualization and framing narratives are now available in the ACS Inclusivity Style Guide. This guide aims to help ACS members communicate in ways that recognize and respect diversity in all its forms. Spread the word!
Network and Learn at an ACS Regional Meeting Near You
ACS Regional Meetings feature technical programming to help you stay up to date on the latest research and keep you connected with chemists in your region.
Registration is now open for the Joint Midwest/Great Lakes Regional Meeting(MWGLRM ), October 18 - 21, the Southeastern Regional Meeting (SERMACS), October 25 – 28, and the Southwest Regional Meeting (SWRM), November 15 – 18.
We hope to see you at one (or more) of the ACS Regional Meetings in 2023!
The Committee on Chemists with Disabilities has dedicated matching grant funds for regional and local events to encourage event coordinators to implement accommodations for participants. This can be initiated by sending an email to CWD@ACS.org and we encourage coordinators of regional and local ACS events and programs to contact us!
Sign Up for the ACS Outreach Summit
This fall, the ACS Outreach Summit will host two 3 day summits focused on science outreach opportunities at ACS Summit dates:
- Summit 2: Delhi, India. Nov 6 - 8, 2023
We will invite up to 30 people to attend each event, and approximately 10 people per event will receive full, domestic, economy-class travel support from ACS. Please submit your interest for either summit by September 1, 2023. Even if your not selected, please join us for our ACS Outreach Summit Virtual Networking event, registration is required.
The ACS Governing Documents require that require that every four years, the Council Policy Committee (CPC) establish a divisor to determine representation at Council by Local Sections and Divisions. The divisor will be set by CPC at its meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, on March 27, 2023, and will determine the number of Councilors each Local Section and Division will be entitled to for 2024-2027.
At the most recent meeting of the Council Policy Committee, its Working Group on Future Council Representation recommended that CPC select a divisor for 2024-2027 that is aimed at reducing the size of Council while staying compliant with the Governing Documents. This, combined with fluctuations that can and do occur in annual member counts, will result in some Local Sections and Divisions experiencing a loss or gain of Councilors from the current period (2020-2023, which was based on membership counts as of December 31, 2018).
Official notification of the Councilor Divisor and the number of Councilors permitted for your Local Section or Division for 2024-2027 will be sent to you no later than May 1, 2023, as required by the Governing Documents. This decision could affect elections conducted in 2023. Please do not finalize any Councilor slates for 2024 until after you receive CPC’s determination. For more information, read the memo or email secretary@acs.org.
Consider making advocacy part of your local section’s sustainability efforts! To encourage ACS members to get involved in sustainability policy issues, the ACS Committees on Environmental Improvement (CEI) and Chemistry & Public Affairs (CCPA) have created a jointly-administered ACS ChemLuminary Award.
The new CCPA-CEI ChemLuminary Award for Outstanding Promotion of the Society’s Sustainability Position S... recognizes local sections for outstanding activities to advocate for, promote, or develop awareness of the Society’s policy statements related to environmental and sustainability issues. Has your local section done government affairs advocacy in 2022 that fits the bill? Self-nominate for the new award! Visit our webpage for more information.